WCU officials say new designation passes test

West Chester University officials are expressing support for legislation that would allow state system universities the option to shed their state-owned affiliations.

State Sen. Andy Dinniman, D-19th of West Whiteland and state Sen. Tommy Tomlinson announced the bipartisan legislation Tuesday in Harrisburg. If passed, it would give schools in the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education the ability to transfer out of the state system if they meet certain criteria.

The senators said their legislation would give the universities in the system greater independence and flexibility. It also would help them meet financial challenges, improve academic offerings and lead to increased enrollments.

“Giving state-system universities the pathway to become state-related schools will give them the freedom and independence they need to meet the challenges of the future,” said Dinniman, who serves as minority chair of the Senate Education Committee.

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In the current system, Dinniman said enrollment is down.

“Our students deserve to be supported by institutions that can evolve and adapt to meet their needs and to provide the best education at an affordable price,” he said.

The senators said transitioning eligible schools out of the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education, or PASSHE, would bring millions of dollars back to the state system through the sale of buildings and lands.

To qualify for a transfer under the legislation and become a state-related university, the institution must have student enrollment of more than 7,000; have an unqualified audit opinion for three years; have the financial ability to compensate the state for the depreciated value of its property; and continue to contribute to the employer share for pension obligations.

West Chester University’s Council of Trustee’s voted in January to pursue getting the legislation before the state Senate.

Trustee Eli Silberman, who attended Tuesday’s press conference in Harrisburg, said moving the university to state-related status is absolutely a possibility if it proves to be the best option for the university.

Should the legislation pass, Silberman said the council will hire a consulting firm to weigh the pros and cons of changing affiliation.

“This is an option,” Silberman said.

Silberman said the action has to be considered, given the decrease in state funding and changes in education.

Silberman said while some are opposed, the vast majority of faculty appear to be in favor of changing over.

Frank Brogan, chancellor of the state system, responded to the announcement noting it may have unintended negative impacts on the universities despite the intentions of the senators.

“There was a lot said today about the state system that certainly deserves closer review,” Brogan said.

There are 14 universities in the state system.

Brogan said there are a number of concerns with the legislation in terms of quality and cost.

“A primary concern is that for any university that leaves the state system, tuition and fees will likely go up, as was confirmed in the press conference today,” Brogan said. “This would create an added burden for students and their families. Every university that leaves the state system could close another door to affordable, quality public higher education.”

Initial estimates indicate tuition at the university would have to rise at a rate of $500 to $1000 a year, according to Silberman.

“You know if things continue the way they have been with the reduction in funding from the state (that) tuition would have to be raised anyway,” he said.

Guido Pichini, board of governor’s chairman for the system, said the system is evolving to better support the schools and meet the changing needs of students, families and residents.

“We are already doing this because it is the right thing to do,” Pichini said.

According to senators, the system has experienced a decline in enrollment in recent years, and many universities are struggling financially.

Pichini acknowledges several of the universities have needed to make difficult personnel decisions recently to ensure long-term viability.

“The current funding structure for PASSHE is unsustainable — and now is the time to address the issue for the sake of students, communities and our universities,” said Tomlinson, R-6th, of Bucks County. “Allowing universities to transition to a state-related institution will provide greater flexibility to respond to local community, business and workforce needs — while providing more funds for remaining PASSHE schools.”

The state system is the largest provider of higher education in the Commonwealth, with a collective enrollment of about 112,000 at its 14 schools. The state owned schools are publicly owned and governed by the commonwealth.

State-related universities, meanwhile, are those that are “statutorily established as an instrumentality of the commonwealth and receive an annual appropriation,” according to the state department of education. Those universities are given the status through charter or legislation. Each school sets its own tuition, fees and related costs of attendance.

In regards to the state property at West Chester, Silberman said the university estimates it will cost about $160 million, which could be paid out over the course of 30 years.

According to the senators, the university’s chancellor would be required to put together a timeline in agreement with the institution’s council of trustees on the transfer process. Collective bargaining agreements in place at the time of the transfer will remain in force for the term of the contract. New collective bargaining contracts would be negotiated by the university.

“This creates opportunity for stronger relationships with local communities by increasing jobs, supporting economic development and becoming more agile in responding to the needs of their region,” Tomlinson said.

Thomas Fillippo, chairman of West Chester University’s Council of Trustees, said the legislation presents the university with an interesting opportunity of how to best serve the commonwealth in the future.

“Looking ahead, our region continues to grow rapidly and students and employers require us to adopt a more entrepreneurial operational model that is responsive to quickly emerging needs and opportunities,” Fillippo said in a statement. “This bill recognizes that the time has arrived for state universities to embrace a new organizational approach in order to remain relevant and maximize their potential for serving the Commonwealth.”

About the Author

Jeremy Gerrard is the Daily Local News' reporter covering the West Chester area and local school district. Jeremy is a Chester County native and a graduate of Auburn University. Reach the author at jgerrard@dailylocal.com
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